Charity Spotlight: Warrick Dunn Charities
Every year since 2006, the Heisman Trust has awarded its “Heisman Humanitarian Award” to figures in the world of sports who give significantly of themselves to improve the lives of others.
The 2010 Heisman Humanitarian Award was given to former Florida State running back Warrick Dunn for his work fighting poverty and hunger and improving the quality of life for families and children through his Warrick Dunn Charities foundation, of which the Heisman Trophy Trust is a proud sponsor.
Created in 2002, the foundation draws on life lessons and experiences from Dunn’s own life and applies them to its mission of providing additional programs and support to single-parent families and the community. The foundation provides financial literacy and new homeowner support, post-secondary education scholarships and wellness and other resources for parents and children. There are also efforts to address food-insecurity and nutrition amongst low to moderate-income families.
These initiatives got started during Dunn’s 1997 rookie season with the Atlanta Falcons, when he created “Homes for the Holidays” to share his mother’s dream of owning a home with other single parents. Since then, HFTH has awarded more than $2 million in furnishings and $500,000 in down payment assistance to over 100 single parents and over 250 children and dependents.
Another program, Betty’s Hope, served Baton Rouge, LA, for nearly three years to provide grief education to children in need. It reached over 3,000 children in the community.
Other programs supported by Warrick Dunn Charities include Count On Your Future, established in 2014 with support from Country Financial to teach families the methods necessary to achieve economic empowerment; Sculpt, to combat food insecurity while teaching nutrition and wellness; H4CS, which provides scholarships to students who contribute in their communities; and Cayden’s Way, created to give back to under-privileged children and families by donating items such as used and new toys, books, clothing and furniture.
To join the Heisman Trust in supporing the great works of the Warrick Dunn Charities foundation, click here.
